Canada West Final: Ringrose comes through for hockey Bears vs. Bisons

by Matt Gutsch, U of Alberta Sports Information

Archive photo courtesy Uwe Welz / U of Alberta Athletics

EDMONTON - After generating chances but coming away empty handed in game one, the University of Alberta Golden Bears hockey team needed a more complete effort in game two, and received it during a tight, physical 2-1 win over the Manitoba Bisons, Saturday night in the Canada West championship series at Clare Drake Arena.

Fourth-year forward Eric Hunter, who was drafted in 2006 by the New York Rangers (174th overall) had a goal, and an assist, and plenty of jump, as he led the way for Alberta on the scoreboard, and physically.

Hunter's linemates Jesse Gimblett and Sean Ringrose, who combined as a three-man unit for 14-points in four regular season games against Manitoba this season, were strong again tonight, as Gimblett chipped in with two assists, while Ringrose scored the game-winning goal.

Freshman Ian Duval scored the game's opening goal and the only tally for the Bisons.

The Golden Bear win ties up the best-of-three series at one game each, after the Bisons scored a 4-1 win Friday night, despite being outshot 47-21.

Game three goes Sunday at 7:00 p.m. MDT, with the winner claiming the W.G. Hardy Trophy as Canada West champions. The Bears are looking for their eighth conference banner in the last nine years, and 48th overall, while Manitoba is searching for their third in team history, and first since 1965. Both teams have already clinched a berth into the University Cup tournament, March 25-28 at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Alberta, which outshot the Bisons 18-4 in the first period of game one, but trailed 2-0, played a hesitant first period on Saturday. The home side was further rattled in the opening 20 minutes when Bison defender Travis Mealy levelled Canada West MVP and leading scorer Chad Klassen with a shoulder-to-head hit right at the Manitoba blue-line. Klassen, who scored a career-high 18-goals and 28-assists for 46-points, was looking back for a pass when Mealy cruised into his path, and flattened Klassen, removing him from the game.

"Yeah, we were a little tentative in the first, especially after Chad got hurt," said Bears' head coach Eric Thurston.

"I mean, that's our MVP and a guy who brings a lot of offense to our team...I don't think we knew how to respond to that right away. But, I really liked how Travis [Yonkman] played tonight, he was square to every shot he faced, and as soon as I saw he was playing that way, I knew we could turn our game around," the 2009 CIS coach of the year added.

Manitoba, who last weekend became the first team to defeat the Saskatchewan Huskies in a playoff series in Saskatoon in 17-years, gained the upper hand at the 7:22 mark of the second, when Mike Hellyer collected a loose puck in the Bears' zone, and fed Duval, who blew a slapshot past Alberta freshman goalie Travis Yonkman's blocker from outside the faceoff circle.

The Golden Bears, winners of three of the last five CIS national championships, ramped up their game after the Bison goal, thanks in large part to the effort of Hunter, Gimblett and Ringrose.

"When you get to the playoffs, there is a lot of clutching and grabbing, but Hunter and Gimblett are two big guys that never stop moving their feet, so they feed off this style of tight playoff hockey. And, even though Sean is only 5'9" and was going up against 6’2” defenders, he played big, and it showed tonight," said Thurston.

Hunter and Gimblett, wingers who tip the toledos at 6'1", 210lbs, and 6'3", 220lbs respectively, were instrumental in Alberta's opening goal, as the two worked the puck down low in the Bison zone, before Hunter collected it in the corner and fired a shot on Manitoba back-stopper Steve Christie from behind the goal line. The puck ricocheted off Christie’s pads and through the five-hole for the tie score.

Both teams received ample opportunities in the final frame on the power-play, as the zebras, who called just two penalties combined in the first two periods, elected to call six in total in the third, three to each side.

It was an interference call against third-year Bison forward Kyle Howarth that turned the tables for Alberta. After killing off a 5-on-3 Manitoba advantage, the Golden Bears got a chance with the extra attacker, and made it count.

Hunter's initial shot was stopped by Christie, but the rebound went right to Ringrose, who made no mistake shelving the puck over the sprawling Canada West first team all-star goaltender with just five minutes to play.

"Well, it's everything you could want in the playoffs, a one game match-up for the championship," stated Manitoba head coach Mike Sirant.

"This was a little closer to what we expected in this series; it was a close, physical game which is what you expect at this time of year. We would have preferred to end it in two, but we'll do it again (on Sunday) with the championship on the line," Sirant continued.